Broke my B26TLB rear axle shaft

[civilian]

Sunday was not a good day for me. Was supposed to be an easy day, haul some dirt back to a clearing to level a spot for a deer blind. On about the 3rd trip back, and just into the clearing, thump, and right rear corner droped down to the ground. Wheel was on an axle, and no the lug nuts did not just come off. They were all there and tight. Got off the tractor and saw the remaing shaft in the outer bearing sheared off and fluid running out the shaft hole. Was able to release the latch on the backhoe and drop it back to the ground and also get the out rigger down. By this time, very little hydraulic preesure left in the system. Shut the engine down. Went back to the house to get some jack stands and the 4ft tall farm jack on the other tractor and went back out. Also brought cribbing. Was able to lift it up on the backhoe frame and get the stands undet on some 2x's.

Left till this morning, and called local dealer. Described the situation to the service write up person. Told them which part number the axle shaft was. They agreed and added some other items, ie bearing, seals, to the estimate and pick up and delivery and repair labor to fix. I said today was nice, rest of week rain was forecasted. All morning their phone has been off the hook from all problems that were created on a long weekend by the visiting weekend warriors. They couldn't tell me when they could pickup but the driver would call for directions.

Now the wife and I had to open the trail large enough for their rollback with my tractor on it. About 2pm, driver called and said he had a delivery in my area and would come by afterwards to load mine.

He arrived by 3:30pm and by 4:30pm he was pulling out of the clearing. So now I wait. Jon

 

[Richard001]

Sorry, that really sucks

 

[CalG]

Sunday was not a good day for me. Was supposed to be an easy day, haul some dirt back to a clearing to level a spot for a deer blind. On about the 3rd trip back, and just into the clearing, thump, and right rear corner droped down to the ground. Wheel was on an axle, and no the lug nuts did not just come off. They were all there and tight. Got off the tractor and saw the remaing shaft in the outer bearing sheared off and fluid running out the shaft hole. Was able to release the latch on the backhoe and drop it back to the ground and also get the out rigger down. By this time, very little hydraulic preesure left in the system. Shut the engine down. Went back to the house to get some jack stands and the 4ft tall farm jack on the other tractor and went back out. Also brought cribbing. Was able to lift it up on the backhoe frame and get the stands undet on some 2x's.

Left till this morning, and called local dealer. Described the situation to the service write up person. Told them which part number the axle shaft was. They agreed and added some other items, ie bearing, seals, to the estimate and pick up and delivery and repair labor to fix. I said today was nice, rest of week rain was forecasted. All morning their phone has been off the hook from all problems that were created on a long weekend by the visiting weekend warriors. They couldn't tell me when they could pickup but the driver would call for directions.

Now the wife and I had to open the trail large enough for their rollback with my tractor on it. About 2pm, driver called and said he had a delivery in my area and would come by afterwards to load mine.

He arrived by 3:30pm and by 4:30pm he was pulling out of the clearing. So now I wait. Jon

View attachment 4015088View attachment 4015089View attachment 4015090

What a clean break! Fresh Too!

I doubt my B2601, without the BH will see a load to do that. But I'm going to take the warning, and NOT overload the carry all!

 

[thclimer]

Wow, that's crazy!

Did your dealer give you any idea on the repair timeframe?

 

[D&D]

He arrived by 3:30pm and by 4:30pm he was pulling out of the clearing. So now I wait. Jon

Really bad news. How many hours on your TLB?

 

[LouNY]

The little backhoes add a lot of ballast to the rear.
Any wheel spacers? Are the tires loaded?
Hate to see that happen, good luck with her.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I never would a thunk it was possible. I had thought about this for the front axle and carying loads on the bucket, just not the rear.

Hope its not as costly as you expect.

 

[civilian]

Really there was no extra load on the rear axle. Should have been a bit less then normal because of the full bucket of dirt cantilevering the rear. Yes tires are loaded. Axle shafts are about 9" from outer bearing to hub. This is because of full frame going to the rear for the backhoe. And frame supports a non removeable loader frame and full 4 post roll cage. (Backhoe has not been off in the 7 years I have had it.) Parts are ordered, about 3 to 4 days. Service gave me indication of repairing next week, driver said a couple of weeks. Between 2200 hours and 2500 hours. Don't need it next week because of other commitments. Had 20yds of driveway gravel planned for this week but was able to cancel that. That probably won't happen till next year now. Fall chores (leaves, mowing) coming up soon which mostly uses BX2230.

Parts estimated at $1400, 6 hours for pickup and delivery, 6 hours for repairs. Didn't think that was bad compared to other work I have done lately. Work includes hydraulic filters and full hydraulic fluid because it puked it out the shaft hole. Shaft broke at outer bearing edge. And both bearings and other internal parts.

Thanks for questions and comments. Jon

 

[JTKub]

You can't beat that for service if they were able to come get it the day after a holiday. Keep us posted on the outcome.

 

[civilian]

Years ago my son in Steamboat needed to borrow our 2005 Camry. He hd a friend needing a way back from Michigan. I had a local oil change place change oil. Guy took it out, all ok. After a while son was driving out there, left to go to work on morning. Got about 3 house down the street, car quit. He started it up ran a few feet more and it quit again. Then he relized light on dash. I don't remember if it was check oil or low oil. Pushed it back home. Had repair come get it to fix it.They found no oil filter. It was a spin on. Not in drive, or along road. No oil puddle in drive. Don't know what caused it. I went ut towed it home and had an used engine installed. Talked to insurance. Adjuster accepted claim and repair bill, and my expenses to pick up was covered.

So thinking the same type for my tractor, I have also started a claim for this on my home insurance. Dealer says they work with insurance adjusters all the time. So we will see. The adjuster is already on his way to see it. Jon

 

[dfkrug]

Ouch. Surprising failure.

Messicks has one RR axle for the B26 in stock, and it is $935 + tax and shipping.

 

[thclimer]

Years ago my son in Steamboat needed to borrow our 2005 Camry. He hd a friend needing a way back from Michigan. I had a local oil change place change oil. Guy took it out, all ok. After a while son was driving out there, left to go to work on morning. Got about 3 house down the street, car quit. He started it up ran a few feet more and it quit again. Then he relized light on dash. I don't remember if it was check oil or low oil. Pushed it back home. Had repair come get it to fix it.They found no oil filter. It was a spin on. Not in drive, or along road. No oil puddle in drive. Don't know what caused it. I went ut towed it home and had an used engine installed. Talked to insurance. Adjuster accepted claim and repair bill, and my expenses to pick up was covered.

So thinking the same type for my tractor, I have also started a claim for this on my home insurance. Dealer says they work with insurance adjusters all the time. So we will see. The adjuster is already on his way to see it. Jon

Curious about your homeowners insurance, did you actually add your tractor to your policy when you bought it?

 

[civilian]

We have been with the same local agent and home owners insurances for years. At the last house and then this one. Bought the backhoe in early 2018 usedfrom same dealer, and added it to our policy early this year.

Saw that shaft listed at Meesicks and used that part number to guide the service write up tech in their system. Unfortunately they did not stock it and ordered it from Kubota. Messicks price was $865 I think on Sunday evening when I first looked. Then I saw it jumped to $935 Tuesday morning. Bummer. My dealer's estimate shows it at $925. Jon

 

[number two]

Major Bummer!
I didn't realize Kubotas broke?
We feel your pain!
Good Luck.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Ouch - but it sounds like you have a very decent dealer.

gg

 

[number two]

Any news on your tractor repair?
Good Luck!

 

[civilian]

Haven't been around on TBN because of vacation time. But checked with dealer this week when we got back and they are still waiting on the shaft from Kubota. Dang, Messick's had it in stock when it happened but I assume my dealer can't buy it from Messick's. Don't need it right now. Thanks for asking. Jon

 

[sandman2234]

I sold a Ford 1100 4x4 to a friend, and within a week it did exactly the same thing as your Kubota. I was working for a wire company in their Quality Control Department and had the Chief Metallurgist take a look at it. It was a torsional fatigue. A lot of stopping and starting, and a lot due to the individual brakes not being locked together. Adding in the fact that I had duals installed on the little tractor for a while, that also didn't help.
He was just driving across the yard with the bush hog when it just flopped down.
Price was $1700 for the axle, if we could find it. I pulled some strings with a friend who got it, the seal and the gasket for $237. He was tickled pink, installed it himself and I later bought the tractor, sold it, bought it again, sold it again...
David from jax

 

[ultrarunner]

Amazing savings on the axle…. any details you can share?

 

[civilian]

It would be real nice to get a reason of the break. But not around anybody that could look at it with the proper knowledge. Jon